OFFICES at Bentley Priory that were earmarked for demolition as part of the residential redevelopment of the ex-RAF base will now be kept and converted instead.

City And Country Homes won unanimous approval from Harrow Council's planning committee yesterday evening to amend its planning permission and retain the three-storey 19th Century structure, known as Building 267. It will now become seven three-bed apartments rather than being demolished to make way for three new houses.

Three minor changes were agreed to the transformation of the site in The Common, Stanmore, into a luxury housing estate at the centre of which - in the most important rooms of the Grade II* Listed mansion house itself - will be a museum dedicated to the Battle of Britain and run by a trust.

Helen Moore, residential managing director at City and Country Group, said: "We are delighted with last night’s decision by Harrow Council to approve our latest proposals to convert two former accommodation blocks and the Dining Room into a selection of mews houses and apartments, all of which will enhance the setting of the iconic mansion building and its grounds.

"The existing consent on Building 7 would have seen much of the historic fabric of the late 19th Century building lost, whereas we intend to respect the historic room sizes and preserve period features such as cornices, architraves, doors and panelling.

"We will be using our skills and expertise to carefully add a new layer of history through the restoration and conversion of these buildings, and transform them into a collection of aspirational homes."

Committee members equally consented to a nearby single-storey 19th Century block, designated Building 7, being extended and converted into five instead of three town houses, thereby keeping more of the original features.

A building known as the Dining Room, which was originally going to be turned into one flat and a garage, will now become four flats and a 20-space basement car park.